Reality TV Star On Child Rape Charge

Entertainment

Posted on September 12, 2016
by Olivia Mackinnon

His name is Toby Willis, and he was part of ‘The Willis Family’, a reality TV show about a musical family of 14 from Nashville, Tennessee.

Currently, he’s being held in custody at Muhlenberg County Jail in Greenville, Kentucky on a fugitive from justice warrant. Willis is facing one count of child rape, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said in a statement.

A second series of The Willis Family began on TLC in March this year. Toby Willis and his wife Brenda have 12 children — eight girls and four boys, aged five to 23, who tour the country as the Willis Clan playing musical instruments and singing.

Brenda Willis is most well-known for home schooling all her children, in part to allow the national tours.

Website TMZ reported that the family had been informed in May that TLC had decided against a third series, adding that “the network did extensive background checks on Toby and his family but nothing raised any red flags.”

“During the course of the investigation, agents developed information Willis had a sexual encounter approximately 12 years ago with an underage female,” the release alleged.

“The investigation into Willis remains active and ongoing.”

“TBI agents arrested the 46-year-old in Greenville, Kentucky, where he traveled (sic) in an effort to avoid law enforcement, and charged him with one count of Rape of a Child.”

The TBI added Willis “will ultimately face extradition to Cheatham County, where once booked, he will be held in the Cheatham County Jail without bond.”

The Willis Clan’s website and social media platforms have been deleted after his arrest. The website’s bio page had previously stated that Toby was “the father of the twelve Willis Clan children, helping them strive for excellence in all they do,” heavy.com reported.